Ultrasonographic appearance of primary gastric neoplasia in 21 dogs

The ultrasonographic findings in 21 dogs with histologically confirmed prim ary gastric neoplasia were reviewed. Location, shape of the gastric lesion, evidence of gastric wall thickening, wall layers affected, presence of ulc eration, evidence of extension through the gastric wall and lymphadenopathy were recorded. Twelve dogs with carcinoma shared many ultrasonographic fea tures with six dogs that had lymphoma, the majority having sessile masses t hat appeared to involve all layers of the gastric wall; many also had evide nce of ulceration and lymphadenopathy. Signs of extension of the lesion thr ough the serosal surface of the stomach were identified ultasonographically only in dogs with carcinoma. In contrast, three dogs with leiomyoma or lei omyosarcoma each had a focal mass affecting the gastric antrum, and lymphad enopathy was not identified ultrasonographically in these dogs. Even withou t any specific patient preparation, ultrasonography enables a morphological assessment of gastric neoplasms that may prompt a tentative diagnosis of g astric neoplasia and stimulate further investigation.